CLEVELAND, Ohio — In this week’s Hey, Mary Kay! I answer questions about the Browns offense, the new faces on defense, and more.
Hey, Mary Kay: How will the Browns spread the ball around to all of their many skill players on offense? — Sean N., Chicago, Ill.
Hey, Sean: The Browns do have an embarrassment of riches on offense, with at least half a dozen players more than capable of 1,000-yard seasons. It will be difficult to feed all of the hungry skill players on the team, including stars such Odell Beckham Jr., Jarvis Landry, Nick Chubb, Kareem Hunt and Austin Hooper. It’s going to have to be all about the team this year, and offensive players will probably have to set aside their individual goals. With the Browns poised to win big, some players will have to be content with contributing to what could possibly be a Super Bowl campaign and not worry about their numbers. With a 17-game season and likely multiple playoff games, there should be plenty of opportunities for the stars to shine, and for young player such as Donovan Peoples-Jones and Anthony Schwartz to contribute. I also think the Browns will play more three- and four-receiver sets this year because of their strong receiver room.
Hey, Mary Kay! Please clear something up. I keep hearing that we will have nine new starters on defense. Denzel Ward and Myles Garrett are givens, but that means Ronnie Harrison wouldn’t start? I thought he was our third (arguably second at times) best player on defense. John Johnson III is primarily a free safety and Grant Delpit is coming off a major injury. Or is Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah supposed to replace him?
— Dave from Dayton
Hey, Dave: The Browns could have up to nine new starters on defense, but they could also have as few as seven. If it’s nine, here’s how it would shake out: two new defensive tackles and defensive end Jadeveon Clowney; at linebacker, it could possibly be Jacob Phillips at Sam, Anthony Walker at Mike, and Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah at Will; the safeties would be John Johnson III and Grant Delpit; at cornerback, either Greedy Williams or Greg Newsome will start opposite Ward. If it’s eight new starters, Sione Takitaki will still be at Sam; if it’s seven new starters, Takitaki will remain at Sam, and Sheldon Richardson will be re-signed and back at defensive tackle.
Hey, Mary Kay: Can you see coach Kevin Stefanski opening up the playbook even more this year with all the talent they have on offense? Do you think Baker Mayfield has enough talent to put this team on his back and win games when the running game isn’t working? Thanks Mary Kay! #dawgpound — Jeff Lerner, Avon, Ohio
Hey, Jeff: Yes, I think you’ll see new wrinkles on offense this year and even more creativity than you saw last year. They did plenty in 2020, but they were limited for all the reasons we’ve discussed so many times. But this season, Stefanski will not only have a chance to use more of the things he learned over the years from accomplished coaches such as Norv Turner, but he’ll have take advantage of all the knowledge and experience on his excellent coaching staff and incorporate their ideas. They’ve all been tasked with improving in some way, and the offense will benefit from that growth mindset this season. They’ve only scratched the surface with all of the talent they have on this offense, and the possibilities are endless.
Hey, Mary Kay: What is lowest win total record you would be satisfied with for this 2021-2022 season? I admit that 12-5 record would be somewhat disappointing but I would happily accept a 13-4 record —Mark Tucker, Boston, Mass.
Hey, Mark: The Browns play some tougher opponents in 2021, although Warren Sharp of Sharp Football Analysis ranks their schedule as third-easiest in the NFL based on projected win totals of their opponents. But if Aaron Rodgers stays in Green Bay, and if Ben Roethlisberger comes back stronger another year removed from his elbow surgery, the Browns could have a stiffer slate than last year. But they’ve overhauled the defense and they’re talented enough and well-coached enough to beat anyone in the NFL. I think 12-5 would be an excellent season, and possibly enough to win the AFC North.
Hey, Mary Kay: Do good teams use the franchise tag? It seems the good football teams avoid it in a similar way good baseball teams avoid arbitration. Could the Browns sign Nick Chubb to a less expensive per year contract that includes some guaranteed money past his 28-year-old season on the reasoning that his lower usage would prolong his career. That seems like it would be attractive to both. Might Baker sign a less expensive contract like Tom Brady did on the reasoning that he can more than make up for it with endorsements if he wins a couple of Super Bowls? — Richard Benjamin, University Heights
Hey, Richard: Good teams do use the franchise tag, and there’s no shame in using it. It can be an effective strategy to retain a player and buy some time. The Browns will try to extend Nick Chubb this offseason, but will likely aim for an incentive-rich deal that rewards the player for performance, but protects the club against a decline later in the deal. If all else fails, they can franchise Chubb, but I don’t think it will come to that. Baker Mayfield will want to make as much as he can on his second contract, and is too early in his career to take a discount. Some incentives could help clinch it.
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